Most LGUs in C. Visayas have own disaster preparedness plan, OCD-7 says
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, September 15 (PIA) -- Majority of local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas are now proactive in implementing measures to mitigate the effects of disasters such as activating their own local disaster risk reduction management councils down to the barangay level.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) – 7 Operations Officer Neil Sanchez said around 65 to 70 percent of LGUs in the region have their own disaster preparedness action plan and that the new law RA 10121 which strengthens the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system provides LGUs to utilize their local calamity fund for disaster preparedness programs to mitigate the impact of natural calamities.
“Unlike before, LGUs can only spend their calamity fund in response to any disaster in their area but with the new law, LGUs are now given the hand to use their calamity fund for adaptation measures to minimize the effects or risks brought about by disasters,” according to Sanchez.
Sanchez also rated seven from a scale of one to 10 the efficiency of LGUs in the region in responding to disasters.
LGU models cited by Sanchez are the town of San Francisco in Camotes Island, Cebu for having been awarded with the 2011 prestigious United Nations Sasawaka Award for its Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives and Bayawan City in Negros Oriental for taking the lead in spending for projects that tend to minimize the effects of calamities such as on building dikes and dredging rivers.
In Cebu, Gov. Gwen Garcia previously issued Provincial Executive Order 02 mandating LGUs to take active participation in the ‘Community Defense Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Trainings (CDDRRMT) spearheaded by the 7th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG), ARESCOM, in coordination with the OCD-7 and other concerned government agencies.
Armed Forces of the Philippines - Central Command 19th Infantry Division Acting Commander Col. Ceferino Layao representing the 7th RCDG-Cebu said they have conducted the CDDRRMT in the towns of Bantayan Island and Dumanjug.
“In each town, we have trained over 100 barangay tanods and government personnel and our training focus more on mitigating measures instead of disaster response,” Layao bared.
Layao said they plan to train the 17,000 barangay tanods in the whole province as their office is currently finalizing the scheduled training for the Municipality of Sogod. The cities of Talisay andToledo as well as the towns of Carmen, Balamban, Catmon and Liloan are the next areas for the CDDRRMT.
Sanchez meanwhile, said most LGUs in Cebu have forged agreements with the radio groups for communication access in times of disasters. (PIA-Cebu)
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LGUs in C. Visayas given list of critical
brgys. prone to disasters, DENR-7 says
by Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, Sept. 14 (PIA) -- Local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas have already been furnished with the list on the specific barangays in their respective areas that are critical for landslides, flooding or flashfloods to guide them on prioritizing adaptation measures in times of disasters.
“Over 3,000 barangays in the whole region have undergone assessment by our Mines and Geosciences Bureau for the geohazard mapping where barangays are categorized as susceptible for either landslides, flooding or flashfloods with severity depending on the level,” Ed Llamedo, public information officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) -7 disclosed.
Llamedo said the list will help guide LGUs for their proactive measures as the country still expects eight typhoons ahead until the end of the year with two typhoons highly likely to hit the Visayas area.
Out of the four provinces in Central Visayas, Cebu has the most number of barangays that are susceptible to landslides and flooding but the figure is not alarming, Llamedo declared.
“There are slightly over 1,600 barangays in Cebu and less than 15 percent or less than 240 barangays are prone to either landslides or flooding,” Llamedo said.
In Cebu City alone, there are 19 barangays that are vulnerable to landslides and five barangays susceptible to flooding, Llamedo further said.
Apart from furnishing LGus with the list of critical barangays to natural disasters, the DENR-7 geologists also placed recommendations on what LGUs should do to ensure the safety of the people in these areas, this is learned. (PIA-Cebu)
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Cebu needs to brace against 1-2 typhoons until December, PAGASA warns
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, September 14 (PIA) -- Cebu needs to brace itself ahead against one to two typhoons that might hit the province until the end of the year as a total of eight typhoons are still expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) from now till December.
PAGASA-Mactan Chief Engr. Oscar Tabada issued this warning to prepare Cebuanos especially those living in areas prone to landslides, flashfloods and flooding on what to do next to ensure their safety and minimize damages to properties.
“Out of the eight typhoons that are still expected to enter the country, one to two of these typhoons will have a 98 percent probability to cross the Visayas and affect Cebu,” Tabada bared.
Tabada said two to three typhoons are expected each in October and November and one to two typhoons in December to enter the PAR.
Because of the continuous La Niña phenomenon, the country will experience frequent rains as “we have already exceeded the annual average typhoons of 19-20 because since January, we have been hit by 15 typhoons already and based on forecast, eight more typhoons are expected which totals 23 typhoons for the year,” according to Tabada.
Since the installation of a weather radar system in Mactan that covers a 500-kilometer area range, the local PAGASA has been issuing daily weather bulletins for Cebu and its nearby provinces in Central Visayas, Tabada disclosed.
“This is done as part of our early warning signal especially to community residents living in critical areas at risk of flooding and landslides,” Tabada added.
PAGASA-Mactan covers Regions 6,7, 8 and IV-B, this is learned. (PIA-Cebu)
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Cebu biz group thanks P-Noy
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, September 13 (PIA) -- Cebu’s biggest business organization, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), expressed gratitude to Pres. Aquino for the chance of another business linkage opportunity in China during the latter’s recent five-day state visit.
Pres. Aquino invited members of the CCCI to be part of his delegates during his State Visit to the People’s Republic of China last August 30 until September 3.
The state visit is a clear manifestation of the Aquino Administration towards Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the CCCI statement said.
According to CCCI, calling the business leaders of the country’s premier city to join the forces of his business exploration, President Aquino expects enhanced economic relations between the Philippines and China especially in areas of investment and trade promotions.
The CCCI, as the biggest business organization in Cebu, aims to provide a more relevant economic perspective in the local scenario. Being part of this exploration, the CCCI will serve as an active ally in promoting the thrusts of the current administration, this is said.